Abandoned Pools
Encyclopedia
Tommy Walter is an American musician
and songwriter
, best known for his Alternative rock
band, Abandoned Pools, as well as being the former bassist and one of the founding members of Eels.
, followed by Pacific University
. He began teaching classical music theory
, and worked with local Los Angeles area musicians.
He met with singer-songwriter E, and John "Butch" Norton and officially formed Eels. Prior to their founding, E had already released two records by himself, under his single-letter pseudonym, and their name was decided upon so that their music would be placed next to E's solo works. However, it was in retrospect that they realized that there were bands that would be placed in between, such as The Eagles.
Their collaborations led to refining songs that E had previously written, as well as creating new material. They released their debut album, Beautiful Freak
, in 1996. However, after a year of touring, Tommy quit the band. In an interview, he stated his dissatisfaction with E's personality, and the loss of the amount of creative input that both Butch and himself had prior to the success of Beautiful Freak.
Soon after, he formed a band called Metromax. They shortly changed their name to Tely, and released an album over the internet. However, the band didn't garner much success, and it soon evolved into Tommy's solo project, Abandoned Pools.
, in 2001 on Extasy Records
. While being the creative force behind the project, other musicians contributed to the project, such as Angie Hart of Frente!
, who sang backing vocals to "Start Over," "Ruin Your Life," "Sunny Day," and "Seed."
Although a solo project, he recruited a touring band, featuring Leah Randi
and Bryan Head filling out the ranks of bassist and drummer, respectively. They had several successful tours, going across the country and headlining with acts such as Garbage
, A Perfect Circle
and Lenny Kravitz
. They also appeared on Craig Kilborn
and two videos, "Mercy Kiss", and "The Remedy", were released. Monster, another video, was composed of shots taken while on touring, but wasn't released for years, via MTV's website.
In 2002 they performed the theme song for the short-lived Teletoon (also broadcast on MTV
) animated series Clone High
. Many of their songs can be heard in the background during the show. Tommy also voiced himself in a brief appearance in the final episode. After Clone High was dropped by MTV, however, the band stopped its touring (largely due to the dissolution of their label, Extasy Records
).
, and wrote several new songs for his next album, citing his personal life, as well as politics, as his main inspirations.
Teaming up with Bryan Head once more and bringing in guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme, Tommy started work in 2004 to record his next album. In June 2005 they released an EP, consisting of a few songs from the new album along with b-sides and demos, called The Reverb EP
. This was followed by the full album, Armed to the Teeth
, in September 2005
In January 2006, Walter wrote in his online journal that Universal Records
had stopped promoting the album. He subsequently quit the label, also noting that Abandoned Pools is once again a one-man project. He has since created two side projects—Glacier Hiking, an alternative rock band, and Oliver the Penguin, an electronica project. He also collaborates with several other artists and friends in the Los Angeles area, such as Charlotte Martin
and Graham Colton
.
A little known fact about Tommy is that he worked as a Mac Genius at the Grove in Los Angeles while on hiatus. No doubt oblivious casual fans may have had their Macs fixed by him at the Genius Bar, without ever knowing who he really was.
Tommy Walter recently added the song "Legionnaire" to his Myspace and iLike page for free download along with confirming that a new "Abandoned Pools" LP is in production.
"Sublime Currency" is slated to be released later this year.
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
and songwriter
Songwriter
A songwriter is an individual who writes both the lyrics and music to a song. Someone who solely writes lyrics may be called a lyricist, and someone who only writes music may be called a composer...
, best known for his Alternative rock
Alternative rock
Alternative rock is a genre of rock music and a term used to describe a diverse musical movement that emerged from the independent music underground of the 1980s and became widely popular by the 1990s...
band, Abandoned Pools, as well as being the former bassist and one of the founding members of Eels.
Early Years and the Eels
Tommy Walter was born in Thousand Oaks, California on October 30, 1970, and he was raised in Westlake Village. His father was an airplane pilot; his mother a stewardess 20 years his father's junior. Tommy's father was almost 47 when he was born. He grew up in a modest, middle-class household. He began playing bass at a young age, and was formally trained on the French horn in college. He attended the University of Southern CaliforniaUniversity of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, followed by Pacific University
Pacific University
Pacific University is a private university located in Oregon, United States. The first campus began more than 160 years ago and is located about 38 km west of Portland in Forest Grove...
. He began teaching classical music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
, and worked with local Los Angeles area musicians.
He met with singer-songwriter E, and John "Butch" Norton and officially formed Eels. Prior to their founding, E had already released two records by himself, under his single-letter pseudonym, and their name was decided upon so that their music would be placed next to E's solo works. However, it was in retrospect that they realized that there were bands that would be placed in between, such as The Eagles.
Their collaborations led to refining songs that E had previously written, as well as creating new material. They released their debut album, Beautiful Freak
Beautiful Freak
Beautiful Freak is a 1996 album by musician Mark Oliver Everett, his first using a full band and the name Eels...
, in 1996. However, after a year of touring, Tommy quit the band. In an interview, he stated his dissatisfaction with E's personality, and the loss of the amount of creative input that both Butch and himself had prior to the success of Beautiful Freak.
Soon after, he formed a band called Metromax. They shortly changed their name to Tely, and released an album over the internet. However, the band didn't garner much success, and it soon evolved into Tommy's solo project, Abandoned Pools.
Humanistic (2001-2004)
Tommy, using new material, as well as several songs he'd worked on beforehand in both Tely and Metromax, composed, recorded, and released his solo album, HumanisticHumanistic (album)
Humanistic is the debut album by Abandoned Pools. It was released in September 2001. Though two songs were co-written by Pete Pagonis, the album is considered a solo work of Tommy Walter's in which he used new material, as well as several songs he'd worked on beforehand in both Tely and Metromax,...
, in 2001 on Extasy Records
Extasy Records
Extasy Records is a Japanese record label founded in April 1986 by Yoshiki Hayashi, co-founder of the heavy metal band X Japan...
. While being the creative force behind the project, other musicians contributed to the project, such as Angie Hart of Frente!
Frente!
Frente! are an Australian alternative rock group, formed in 1991. The original lineup featured singer Angie Hart, founder and guitarist Simon Austin, bassist Tim O'Connor , and drummer Mark Picton...
, who sang backing vocals to "Start Over," "Ruin Your Life," "Sunny Day," and "Seed."
Although a solo project, he recruited a touring band, featuring Leah Randi
Leah Randi
Leah Randi is an American bass player and vocalist. She has recorded or performed live with bands including Abandoned Pools, Front Line Assembly, Paradise Lost, Delerium, Conjure One and Pink.-Career:...
and Bryan Head filling out the ranks of bassist and drummer, respectively. They had several successful tours, going across the country and headlining with acts such as Garbage
Garbage (band)
Garbage are an alternative rock band formed in Madison, Wisconsin in 1994. The group consists of Scottish singer Shirley Manson and American musicians Duke Erikson , Steve Marker and Butch Vig . All four members are involved in songwriting and production...
, A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle
A Perfect Circle is an American rock supergroup formed in 1999 by guitarist Billy Howerdel and Tool vocalist Maynard James Keenan. The original incarnation of the band also included Paz Lenchantin on bass, Troy Van Leeuwen on guitar, and Tim Alexander on drums...
and Lenny Kravitz
Lenny Kravitz
Leonard Albert "Lenny" Kravitz is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and arranger, whose "retro" style incorporates elements of rock, soul, R&B, funk, reggae, hard rock, psychedelic, folk and ballads...
. They also appeared on Craig Kilborn
Craig Kilborn
Craig Kilborn is an American actor and talk show host. He was the original host of The Daily Show, a former anchor on ESPN's SportsCenter, and Tom Snyder's successor on CBS' The Late Late Show. On June 28, 2010, he launched The Kilborn File after a six-year absence from television...
and two videos, "Mercy Kiss", and "The Remedy", were released. Monster, another video, was composed of shots taken while on touring, but wasn't released for years, via MTV's website.
In 2002 they performed the theme song for the short-lived Teletoon (also broadcast on MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
) animated series Clone High
Clone High
Clone High is a Canadian-American animated television series that aired for one season on MTV and Teletoon....
. Many of their songs can be heard in the background during the show. Tommy also voiced himself in a brief appearance in the final episode. After Clone High was dropped by MTV, however, the band stopped its touring (largely due to the dissolution of their label, Extasy Records
Extasy Records
Extasy Records is a Japanese record label founded in April 1986 by Yoshiki Hayashi, co-founder of the heavy metal band X Japan...
).
Armed to the Teeth (2005-2007)
While keeping in touch with his fanbase and caring for his sick cat, Iggy, Tommy began working on material over the next few years, preparing to release another album. After a relationship of his came to a rough conclusion, he was picked up by UniversalUniversal Music Group
Universal Music Group is an American music group, the largest of the "big four" record companies by its commanding market share and its multitude of global operations...
, and wrote several new songs for his next album, citing his personal life, as well as politics, as his main inspirations.
Teaming up with Bryan Head once more and bringing in guitarist Sean Woolstenhulme, Tommy started work in 2004 to record his next album. In June 2005 they released an EP, consisting of a few songs from the new album along with b-sides and demos, called The Reverb EP
The Reverb EP
The Reverb EP is an EP by Tommy Walter released on June 7, 2005 on Universal Records. It was released as a promotion for his album Armed to the Teeth the second full-length studio album by his musical alter-ego Abandoned Pools, to be released in September the same year...
. This was followed by the full album, Armed to the Teeth
Armed to the Teeth
Armed to the Teeth is the second album by Abandoned Pools. It was released on September 27, 2005 . The album is preceded by The Reverb EP, released June 7...
, in September 2005
In January 2006, Walter wrote in his online journal that Universal Records
Universal Records
Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:...
had stopped promoting the album. He subsequently quit the label, also noting that Abandoned Pools is once again a one-man project. He has since created two side projects—Glacier Hiking, an alternative rock band, and Oliver the Penguin, an electronica project. He also collaborates with several other artists and friends in the Los Angeles area, such as Charlotte Martin
Charlotte Martin
Charlotte Ann Martin is an American singer-songwriter, who performs predominantly on the piano. She has written several studio albums, two of which have received mainstream commercial releases, 2004's On Your Shore and 2006's Stromata...
and Graham Colton
Graham Colton
Graham Colton is an American singer-songwriter from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma most widely known for his hit song "Best Days", featured on the television series American Idol and Kyle XY...
.
A little known fact about Tommy is that he worked as a Mac Genius at the Grove in Los Angeles while on hiatus. No doubt oblivious casual fans may have had their Macs fixed by him at the Genius Bar, without ever knowing who he really was.
Tommy Walter recently added the song "Legionnaire" to his Myspace and iLike page for free download along with confirming that a new "Abandoned Pools" LP is in production.
Sublime Currency (2011-Present)
On May 3, 2011, Abandoned Pools released the song "In Silence", available in all digital stores, as the first single from the upcoming album "Sublime Currency". On June 7, 2011, the second single, "Marigolds" was released in all digital stores."Sublime Currency" is slated to be released later this year.
Discography
| Album information |
|---|
| Humanistic Humanistic (album) Humanistic is the debut album by Abandoned Pools. It was released in September 2001. Though two songs were co-written by Pete Pagonis, the album is considered a solo work of Tommy Walter's in which he used new material, as well as several songs he'd worked on beforehand in both Tely and Metromax,...
|
| The Reverb EP The Reverb EP The Reverb EP is an EP by Tommy Walter released on June 7, 2005 on Universal Records. It was released as a promotion for his album Armed to the Teeth the second full-length studio album by his musical alter-ego Abandoned Pools, to be released in September the same year... United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... ) Universal Records Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:... |
| Armed to the Teeth Armed to the Teeth Armed to the Teeth is the second album by Abandoned Pools. It was released on September 27, 2005 . The album is preceded by The Reverb EP, released June 7... United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... ) Universal Records Universal Records was a record label owned by Universal Music Group, and it is now owned by Manny Patino and Michael Jackson, and operated as part of the Universal Motown Republic Group.-History:... |
| Sublime Currency
United States The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district... ) |